13/12/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
A step towards encouraging more human rights in European foreign policy was agreed today in Turin when key committees in up to 47 national parliaments agreed to meet on an institutional basis to promote the issue.
03/12/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
All too often, human rights become part of foreign policy considerations only when situations have degenerated into humanitarian emergencies. Can human rights become a structural and systematic element of foreign policy so that, without neglecting any emergency that may arise, a medium to long-term approach can be developed in order to pre-empt the use of force through political action?
30/11/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Pietro Marcenaro (Italy, SOC), PACE rapporteur on the Middle East, has welcomed yesterday’s vote in the UN General Assembly recognising Palestine as a non-member observer state. “The vote was a strong indication of the international community’s support for a two-state solution,” said Mr Marcenaro. “
23/11/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Jean-Charles Gardetto (Monaco, EPP/CD), PACE rapporteur on political transition in Egypt, today expressed concern at the decree passed yesterday by President Mohammed Mursi of Egypt. “With this decree, Mr Mursi is effectively granting himself sweeping powers.The very positive role that he played in securing a cease-fire in Gaza cannot serve as an excuse for undermining democracy, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary.”
21/11/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Andres Herkel (Estonia, EPP/CD), PACE rapporteur on Belarus, has expressed his dismay that the “Viasna” human rights centre in Minsk has been ordered to vacate its office by 27 November, following a year of obscure legal procedures which transferred ownership of the apartment in which the office is located to the state.
16/11/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“I listened to the concerns of the Serbian authorities and I reminded them of the need to ensure respect for human rights and the rule of law for all people of Kosovo*, also through the activities and the programmes of the Council of Europe” said Björn von Sydow (Sweden, SOC), PACE rapporteur on the situation in Kosovo, at the end of his two-day visit to Belgrade on 15-16 November.
13/11/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Björn von Sydow (Sweden, SOC), PACE rapporteur on the situation in Kosovo*, will make a fact-finding visit to Belgrade on 15-16 November 2012, in the framework of the preparation of his report. During his visit, he is due to meet the Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and the Foreign Minister...
31/10/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“This is my third visit to Kosovo since the adoption of my last report in 2010. My impression is that the democratic interplay in Kosovo is improving over the years, but democracy needs time,” said PACE rapporteur Björn von Sydow (Sweden, SOC), speaking to the media at the end of a two-day visit to Kosovo (29-30 October 2012).
26/10/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
Björn von Sydow (Sweden, SOC), rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) on the situation in Kosovo*, will make a field visit on 29-30 October 2012 to assess the political situation. The rapporteur will have talks with the Kosovo authorities, including the President and Prime Minister as well as the ministers of Foreign Affairs, Internal Affairs, Justice, Local government administration, and Communities and returns.
10/10/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Citizens should have their say in the way public affairs are run, not only once every four or five years, but every day,” said PACE President Jean-Claude Mignon today in opening a round table entitled “Is representative democracy in crisis?”, as part of the World Forum for Democracy.
08/10/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
“Democracy cannot do without dynamic and prosperous markets. But economic crises pave the way for the enemies of democracy,” explained the President of the PACE today at the opening of the World Forum on Democracy plenary session on the subject “Do markets need democracy and vice-versa?”. He continued: “Yet democracy is hard to reconcile with unregulated markets. The example of the money markets provides proof, if proof were needed, of their inability to self-regulate. (…) Such regulation is difficult in an economy which is globalised but in which the political power largely remains at the national level.”
08/10/2012 | Political Affairs and Democracy
During a bilateral meeting with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon, organised on the margins of the World Forum for Democracy, PACE President Jean-Claude Mignon invited the Secretary General to address the Parliamentary Assembly at a forthcoming session. “The Secretary General highlighted the pioneering role played by the Council of Europe, and more particularly the Parliamentary Assembly, in combating violence against women, including domestic violence...,” the PACE President said.